Why wind and solar can’t save the planet. By Michael Shellenberger with comment by John Shanahan February 28, 2019 Few environmentalists write and speak on the subject of energy as well as Michael Shellenberger. Please read his article about wind and solar. Click here. The governors of California and Colorado are aiming to force their states to convert to 100% wind and solar in a few decades. President Obama, his science advisor, John Holdren, and Hillary Clinton were going to force the United States to do the same. They claimed wind and solar would put everybody to work in high tech. Now junior Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez intends to go forward with plans for the US government to force the whole world to stop using fossil fuels and nuclear and go all wind and solar. Russia and China don't mind our elected officials causing the energy demise of the United States. It weakens their long term adversary. Maybe they will rule the USA some day. Many people are not interested in energy topics. But everything depends on sound energy planning and policies. That applies to dealing with migration from impoverished countries with terrible governments and practically zero economies to having water to flush toilets. Wind and solar can not mine and produce materials to even make bicycles. Everything breaks down without reliable, affordable energy from fossil fuels, hydro and nuclear. Coal is essential for making cement and steel. Without cement and steel there can't be modern cities and transportation networks. Unfortunately, one of Michael Shellenberger's science advisors is James Hansen who also wants to get rid of fossil fuels. For a while, Hansen even insisted that the whole world should run only on the Integral Fast Reactor from Argonne National Laboratory. He is neither the best source about man-made climate change nor energy. He ideas can't and won't be realized. The world must use fossil fuels and all available nuclear power technologies, not just one nuclear technology. Going with wind and solar and stopping use of fossil fuels will prevent the advancement of people to have better lives and economies. China is making tremendous improvements in people's lives with fossil fuels and nuclear. Those wanting the world to stop using fossil fuels will force billions of people to have shorter lives and live in poverty or return to it. That is almost like genocide.
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